Name: Filled Danish Braid
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: ½ cup raisins; ½ cup dried cranberries; ½ cup pitted prunes, cut in half; ½ cup candied citrus peel (orange or lemon), diced; Juice and zest of 1 orange; ½ tsp ground cinnamon; ½ tsp ground ginger; ½ package (125g) cream cheese; 2 tbsp granulated sugar; 1 egg yolk; ¼ tsp vanilla extract; ½ recipe Anna Olson's Danish pastry dough; 1 egg whisked with 2 Tbsp (30 mL) water, for brushing; 1 egg white, at room temperature; 2 tbsp granulated sugar; 1 cup sliced almonds; ½ cup icing sugar, sifted; 1 tbsp milk

Prep Time

45 min

Cook Time

30 min

Yields

12 servings

A lovely braided Danish filled with dried fruits, spices and a sweet cream cheese filling.

ingredients

Fruit Filling

cup raisins

cup dried cranberries

cup pitted prunes, cut in half

cup candied citrus peel (orange or lemon), diced

Juice and zest of 1 orange

tsp ground cinnamon

tsp ground ginger

Cheese Filling

package (125g) cream cheese

tbsp granulated sugar

egg yolk

tsp vanilla extract

Assembly

recipe Anna Olson's Danish pastry dough

egg whisked with 2 Tbsp (30 mL) water, for brushing

egg white, at room temperature

tbsp granulated sugar

cup sliced almonds

cup icing sugar, sifted

tbsp milk

Ingredient Substitution Guide

directions

Step 1

For the fruit, toss the raisins, cranberries, prunes and candied citrus peel with the zest, juice, cinnamon, ginger and sugar. Set aside, stirring occasionally.

Step 2

Beat the cream cheese with the sugar until smooth and then beat in the egg yolk and vanilla. Set aside.

Step 3

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the Danish pastry dough into a 10-x-15-inch (25-x-36-cm) rectangle. Mark 2 parallel lines (without cutting through the pastry) about 3 1/2-inches (9 cm) from each of the long sides of the rectangle. Use a pastry wheel to cut in strips about 1 ½-inches (33 mm) wide at an angle from the outside, stopping at the 3 ½-inch (9 cm) mark. Spread the cheese filling down the middle of the pastry and top this with the fruits – drizzle any excess juices from the fruit bowl over the fruit. Trim away any excess pastry and fold over a bit of pastry at the top and bottom on the rectangle. Alternating strips from each side, fold the strips over the filling so that they reach the opposite side and create a braided look. Once you reach the end of the pastry, tuck the last 2 strips underneath. Lift the braid carefully to a parchment-lined baking tray, cover with a tea towel and let rise for 90 minutes.

Step 4

Preheat the oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Brush the Danish braid with the egg wash and bake for about 30 minutes, until a rich golden brown. Cool the pastry completely on the baking tray before glazing and topping with sugared almonds.

Step 5

For the sugared almonds, whisk the egg white by hand until foamy and whisk in the sugar until dissolved and the whites are still foamy. Stir in the almonds to coat well and spread these on a parchment lined baking tray. Bake the almonds, still at 375 °F (190 °C), until browned, 12-15 minutes, then cool before using (this will make more than you need for this recipe, but they also make a lovely topping for ice cream or other desserts.)

Step 6

To decorate the Danish braid, whisk the icing sugar and milk together and drizzle this over the Danish braid. Lightly crumble the almonds over the glaze and let this set 30 minutes before serving.

Note: The Danish braid is best enjoyed the day it is baked. The braid can be assembled, unbaked, a day ahead to help with timing.

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Filled Danish Braid